Rents are 3% below what Anacortes's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,550 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Anacortes is 1.9% below its high of $2,599 in February 2026, at $2,550 as of September 2026.
Rent in Anacortes changed +1.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($91,951) is $2,299 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,790); a 3-bedroom is $2,500.
Oak Harbor, 13 miles away, rents for 23% less ($1,967/mo), about $7,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Anacortes. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Anacortes, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 47.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Anacortes, WA has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Anacortes, WA has increased from $2,218 to $2,550, a 15.0% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $80,043 to $91,951 across the same window, up 14.9% versus 2021. The population has grown by 3.0% since 2021, moving from about 17,437 residents to roughly 17,966. Renters now make up 30.1% of households, compared with 32.9% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 47.2% of adults here, versus 44.5% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Anacortes, WA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Anacortes on your salary?
At $2,550/mo, how Anacortes rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Anacortes rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Anacortes. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Anacortes
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Anacortes is $2,550/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,230/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,790/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,370/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,500/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($91,951/yr), Anacortes ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Anacortes?
Is rent going up or down in Anacortes?
How does Anacortes rent compare to other cities in Washington?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Anacortes?
At $2,550/mo, rent takes ~33% of Anacortes's median household income ($91,951/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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